RATNAGIRI

Following the defeat of the Peshwas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, Ratnagiri became part of the Bombay Presidency. In 1819, the region known as South Konkan, which includes present-day Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts, was established as a separate district. Its headquarters were initially located at Bankot but were later shifted to Ratnagiri.

In 1830, three northern subdivisions were transferred to the Thane district, and Ratnagiri was reduced to a sub-collectorate under Thane. However, this status was short-lived. By 1832, Ratnagiri was once again recognized as a full-fledged district.

Subsequent administrative changes continued to shape the district. In 1945, a new taluka called Kankavli was created. By 1949, the former princely state of Sawantwadi was merged with Ratnagiri, leading to the reorganization of taluka boundaries and the formation of Sawantwadi, Kudal, and Lanja talukas. After the reorganization of states in 1956, Ratnagiri was incorporated into Bombay State, and in 1960, it became part of the state of Maharashtra. Finally, in 1981, Ratnagiri was separated from Sindhudurg to ensure better administrative management and to support the region’s industrial and agricultural development.

The Ratnagiri district falls under the joint Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha, which comprises the following six Vidhan Sabha segments:

In the Vidhan Parishad, the Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Local Bodies Authorities Constituency, the Konkan Teachers’ Constituency, and the Konkan Graduates Constituency represent the region. The Graduates' and Teachers’ Constituencies are structured according to the administrative divisions of Maharashtra.

The maps given below provide an overview of the boundaries of the Ratnagiri district and the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha Constituencies that fall within and around it.

The Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha constituency was created during the most recent round of delimitation. Before this, Ratnagiri district was represented by two separate constituencies: Ratnagiri and Rajapur.

Based on records from the delimitation reports by the Election Commission, the given chart provides an overview of the changes that have occurred in the composition of the Lok Sabha constituencies of Ratnagiri district and the reshuffling of the Vidhan Sabha constituencies with every delimitation that has been done.

The following is the current Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ratnagiri district in the Lok Sabha, as of 2024:

The following are the current Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) representing constituencies in Ratnagiri district, as of 2024:

There is no member from Ratnagiri district currently in the Rajya Sabha.

The following is the current Guardian Minister for Ratnagiri district, as of 2024:

The following table lists the current Members of the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad representing Ratnagiri district through various constituencies, as of 2024:

The following are the key administrative heads of Ratnagiri district, as of 2024:

Ratnagiri district has a total of 9 Urban Local Bodies, comprising 1 Mahanagar Palika, 7 Nagar Parishads, and 1 Nagar Panchayat. In addition, there are 704 Gram Panchayats across the district. These local bodies play a key role in managing basic infrastructure, public services, and development programmes at the city, town, and village levels. Their functioning reflects the diverse administrative needs of both urban and rural centres.

The Zilla Parishad of Ratnagiri was established in 1962, with official operations commencing on 1 May 1962. Serving as the apex body of rural local governance in the district, it oversees development planning, infrastructure, education, and health services across rural areas. The council comprises a total of 62 elected seats, representing various constituencies within the district.

The Ratnagiri Municipality was established in 1876, making it one of the older municipal institutions in the region. Over the years, it has evolved to manage the civic administration and urban infrastructure of Ratnagiri town. The municipality is responsible for services such as water supply, sanitation, roads, public health, and local governance in the urban area.

Sitaram Patwardhan, born on 4 November, 1894, in the village of Agargule in Ratnagiri taluka (near Ganpatipule), was a renowned freedom fighter and social reformer, fondly known as "Koknache Gandhi" (Gandhi of Konkan). A devoted follower of Mahatma Gandhi, Patwardhan pursued his early education in Ratnagiri before continuing his studies in Pune, where he also briefly worked at Fergusson College.

In 1916, he had the opportunity to meet Gandhi during the Bombay session of the Indian National Congress, an encounter that deeply inspired him. Motivated by Gandhi's ideals, Patwardhan resigned from his job at Fergusson College and joined the Sabarmati Ashram in 1919. There, he was entrusted by Gandhi with the responsibility of publishing the weekly journal Young India.

Patwardhan's commitment to the freedom struggle led to his imprisonment for three and a half years due to his participation in the Satyagraha movement. After his release, he returned to Konkan, where he focused on uplifting the marginalized Kunbi community by establishing the 'Kunbi Seva Sangh.' His efforts helped the Indian National Congress gain a strong foothold in the region, and he served as the district president of the party.

In addition to his political work, Patwardhan founded the 'Gopuri Ashram' in Kankavli (Sindhudurg), where he championed social equality. He broke caste barriers by engaging in manual scavenging himself and producing manure (Sonkhat) at the ashram. Defying societal norms, he and his upper-caste colleagues even skinned dead animals to make leather, a task traditionally restricted to the Mahar caste. His ashram became a momentous measure of unity, where people from 20-25 different castes lived together harmoniously.

In 1952, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Patwardhan’s Gopuri Ashram and recognized his efforts. Later, Patwardhan worked alongside Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan movement, advocating for land redistribution.

Sitaram Patwardhan passed away on March 10, 1971, leaving behind a legacy of social justice and reform. His life embodied the Gandhian principles of equality, selflessness, and service to the downtrodden.

Burondi Village, located 10 km from Dapoli, experienced its first recorded communal incident in 1986 when tensions flared between Muslim and Hindu residents over a marriage procession that was deemed too loud during Namaz. Since then, the village has witnessed occasional disturbances, particularly during festival seasons. In 2013, individuals from both communities, with assistance from the local police, formed a Samanvay Samiti (Coordination Committee) to address these issues. The committee successfully resolved various petty conflicts, and in 2015, they signed a 100-year peace treaty that outlined basic guidelines for festival processions. Since then, incidents of animosity have largely faded, and no further conflicts have been recorded.

In larger towns like Chiplun, the most recent significant Hindu-Muslim tension occurred in 2014 after a fake message was circulated about Shivaji Maharaj. In December 2022, Hindu nationalist groups organized protests against “Love Jihad”, but these gatherings saw low turnout and did not escalate. Despite the occasional flare-ups, Hindus and Muslims in Chiplun and surrounding areas have lived in relative peace for many years.